As of 1 November 2007, the Scaliger chair is held by prof. Dr H. Beukers. Prof. Beukers was professor by special appointment of the Leids Universitair Fonds for the subject history of medicine. His field of interest was the interaction between medicine of the West and that of Japan. As Scaliger professor he is involved in stimulating the use of the Special Collections of Leiden University Library in education and research. Together with drs. Kasper van Ommen he is amongst several other things, teaching a course for students on Sources of Knowledge: Collections and Libraries at Leiden University (Interdisciplinary Course Museums, Heritage and Collections). He also is giving several classes for medical students on the history of medicine, anatomical drawings and doctors and their books.